DESTINATION: ANCLOTE KEY

As you head south along Florida's Gulf Coast, the lighthouse at Anclote Key serves as a beacon for mariners entering the Intracoastal Waterway. Every day thousands of people from all over the country in everything from fishing skiffs to million-dollar yachts travel this "highway for boaters" that stretches more than 150 miles to Fort Myers. Anclote Key State Park with its great fishing and bird-watching gets its share of visitors. Most people approach the island from the north because the deeper water there is a better place to anchor big boats. The state has built pavilions in the middle of the island on the gulf side and one at the north end at the designated primitive campground. The picnic areas have composting toilet facilities and tables and grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no electricity or running water and visitors must dispose of their own garbage.

SAY THIS THREE TIMES FAST: PADDLE THE CHASSAHOWITZKA

Citrus County's Chassahowitzka River is a great paddle for beginners or families with small children. The current is gentle and boat traffic, though common, is not a problem. Locals tend to respect the canoeists and kayakers and usually slow down when passing. Most of the river lies within the boundaries of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, a 31,000-acre wilderness that is home to more than 250 species of birds, 50 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 25 species of mammals, including the West Indian manatee and the state's largest land mammal, the Florida black bear. The river is Site 51 on the Great Florida Birding Trail so be sure to bring your bird book. You will see a variety of waterbirds, raptors and if you are lucky, perhaps even a swallow-tailed kite. To learn more, go to floridabirdingtrail.com. One last tip: Check the tide before leaving the boat ramp and plan accordingly. If you have the tide with you, plan on a longer, harder paddle on your return trip.

SNOWBIRDS: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN

Ready for a white Christmas? Here in Tampa Bay, we don't get snow, but we do get white pelicans during the winter months. With a wingspan of nearly 9 ½ feet, it is one of North America's largest birds. You might see large flocks soaring over the bay in a tight V formation. Unlike the brown pelican, which is found here year-round, white pelicans are strictly winter visitors to the state. These birds summer in western Canada and the northwestern United States. White pelicans and brown pelicans also have different feeding habits. White pelicans don't dive for food. Instead, they float on the surface and scoop up their food. White pelicans were hunted heavily during the height of the plume trade and later their numbers were threatened by wide-spread use of dangerous pesticides. While populations have increased, these birds still die after becoming tangled in discarded fishing line. So make sure you recycle your spent line. You might just save a bird's life.

GREAT GIFT: COOK SET

Lightweight and durable, the Snow Peak cook set is ideal for soup, coffee or tea on the trail. Carry one in your day pack or the hatch of your kayak. It weighs next to nothing and is virtually indestructible. Snow Peak has a line of lightweight cook gear, including a double-walled coffee mug so you won't burn your hands on a cold winter's day. Check it out at snowpeak.com.

The outgoing tides of last weekendís new moon washed thousands of small swimmer crabs, known locally as "pass crabs," out of the estuaries and into the gulf. This suddenly abundant food source offshore works as a natural chum line and draws big permi...

With the full moon this next week tarpon are moving down the beaches and making their way out of the bay and moving out to the bridges and the passes to feed before some of them leave to go out and spawn on the full moon. Early in the morning along t...

Windy conditions this week have actually slightly improved fishing. The waters of Saint Joseph sound had become so clear that it made finding fish easy, but getting bites very difficult. Snook have been gathering in great numbers all along the beache...

Red grouper fishing continues to be steady in depths of 100-120 feet. Large bait stacks are holding a fish or two, but larger concentrations are on very small rolls and potholes in those depths. Zooming in on the bottom 10-15 feet of the water column...

Cobia is the topic this week. Capt. Tom Markham, aboard the Simply Hooked, was beginning his daily bait routine. It turned out that one of the markers located near Clearwater Pass, surprisingly, had a giant fish waiting for him. The captain slid up t...

This week shouldnít be a total wash out. While there is a chance of rain every day, it should only be sporadic. Hopefully it wonít dirty up the water too much. If you are a tarpon fisherman and look forward to their arrival like I do, then you are in...

Itís the best time of year for fishing in the area. Tarpon can be targeted off of any of the bridges. The Gandy, Howard Frankland and Skyway are my top choices. While awaiting a tarpon strike, I kill time by dropping smaller baits for Spanish mackere...

Most fly fishers would prefer minimum wind and cloudless skies to increase chances for a banner day. This has been a problem lately. The wind makes casting more difficult, unless very experienced, and clouds interfere with sight casting opportunities...

Schools of baitfish have arrived and taken up residence in all depths. Birds are diving on them close to the beach, all the way out to the midwater artificial reefs. Farther offshore, bait schools might not be visible on the surface but can be detect...

Tarpon season is here, and the fish are showing up in numbers along the beaches. While there have been tarpon in the bays and backwaters for awhile, there were very few schools cruising the coast until a few days ago. Then, seemingly overnight, big p...

Terry Tomalin, the Tampa Bay Times' larger-than-life outdoors editor, traveled Florida and the world to take readers on extraordinary adventures. He died on May 19 after suffering a heart attack. He was 55.

Do you have a great catch photo? Email it to [email protected] or send an Instagram photo to #tbgreatcatch and we'll add it to our gallery at tampabay.com/sports. Please include your name, telephone number and where and when the fish was caught.